Truck hits embankment, overturns; driver dies

Published: Sunday, October 6, 2013 at 9:35 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, October 7, 2013 at 11:58 a.m.

A 67-year-old man from Holly Grove died in a single-vehicle crash that ended after his vehicle hit an embankment and overturned on its side in Silver Valley late Saturday night, according to Silver Valley Fire Department officials.

First responders were dispatched to the accident at 10:59 p.m. Pam Kearns, a spokeswoman with the N.C. Highway Patrol, said William Lloyd Hicks died in the accident after his 1995 Nissan pickup truck was involved in the accident.

Silver Valley Fire Chief Chris Hedrick said Hicks was traveling west on Blackberry Road toward Lexington. The chief explained the truck left Blackberry Road, came across the parking lot of Dollar General (located in the 100 block of Blackberry Road) and hit a crape myrtle bush and then traveled across a ditch. Hedrick said the vehicle continued to travel across the off-ramp of N.C. Highway 109 before hitting an embankment and overturning onto its side.

Kearns said the pickup also struck a mailbox in the parking lot of the Dollar General. She said contributing circumstances to the accident were unknown Monday. Kearns said the speed limit where the accident occurred is 55 miles per hour, and Hicks’ estimated speed was 45 mph.

Hedrick said nobody else was in the vehicle. Silver Valley firefighters cleared the scene at 1 a.m. Sunday, and troopers with the N.C. Highway Patrol conducted the investigation, the chief said.

Hedrick said Hicks was on his way home after being at church.

Jamison Sears, a shift supervisor with the Davidson County 911 Center, said troopers, Davidson County EMS, the Davidson County Rescue Squad and Silver Valley firefighters responded to the scene.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.

<p>A 67-year-old man from Holly Grove died in a single-vehicle crash that ended after his vehicle hit an embankment and overturned on its side in Silver Valley late Saturday night, according to Silver Valley Fire Department officials.</p><p>First responders were dispatched to the accident at 10:59 p.m. Pam Kearns, a spokeswoman with the N.C. Highway Patrol, said William Lloyd Hicks died in the accident after his 1995 Nissan pickup truck was involved in the accident.</p><p>Silver Valley Fire Chief Chris Hedrick said Hicks was traveling west on Blackberry Road toward Lexington. The chief explained the truck left Blackberry Road, came across the parking lot of Dollar General (located in the 100 block of Blackberry Road) and hit a crape myrtle bush and then traveled across a ditch. Hedrick said the vehicle continued to travel across the off-ramp of N.C. Highway 109 before hitting an embankment and overturning onto its side.</p><p>Kearns said the pickup also struck a mailbox in the parking lot of the Dollar General. She said contributing circumstances to the accident were unknown Monday. Kearns said the speed limit where the accident occurred is 55 miles per hour, and Hicks' estimated speed was 45 mph.</p><p>Hedrick said nobody else was in the vehicle. Silver Valley firefighters cleared the scene at 1 a.m. Sunday, and troopers with the N.C. Highway Patrol conducted the investigation, the chief said.</p><p>Hedrick said Hicks was on his way home after being at church.</p><p>Jamison Sears, a shift supervisor with the Davidson County 911 Center, said troopers, Davidson County EMS, the Davidson County Rescue Squad and Silver Valley firefighters responded to the scene.</p><p>Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.</p>